Top Ten Tuesday | Books That I Didn’t Love… but am Glad I Read. Aka Let Me Clarify These Words.

Top Ten Tuesday | Books That I Didn’t Love… but am Glad I Read.
Aka Let Me Clarify These Words.

Hey, hey, fellow readers. We welcome Tuesday as we usually
do around here: with an all-new edition of Top Ten Tuesday. Let’s take a look
at our topic.

That Artsy Reader GirlMay 15: Books
I Disliked/Hated but Am Really Glad I Read (maybe just for
bragging rights)

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Read the disclosure page for details.)

Ok, so this topic is tough. Because I feel like I
very rarely – if ever, have read a book I hate. If a book isn’t really working –
like my most recent DNF, Before I Fall, I put it aside and move on. So
today the books I’m looking at some of the books that I do (mostly) remember liking
at the time I read them… but today, I don’t think would be my cup of tea. While
the stories inside these pages did entertain, they didn’t capture my reader
heart as some of the other books I’ve read have.

With all that said, let’s get to listing*!

(*Keeping things simple today - all the way around.)

1: The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott | This is the
one book on this list that I probably didn’t enjoy. I went into it with such
high expectations because I do adore the film adaptation. But alas, I had to
push myself to finish the book. Makes me wonder if I should both with an attempt
to read Little Women. PS: speaking of Alcott's masterpiece, I review the NEW Little Womentoday right here on Finding Wonderland. Amazon | Goodreads | Find The Inheritance (film adaptation) also on Amazon

2: The Siren by Kiera Cass | Entertaining, yes, but
not at the same level as Kiera’s ‘The Selection’ series. Amazon | Goodreads

3: Born of Distinction by Jessica Dotta | At the
time I read this one, I remember it being one of my favorite reads. The more I
think about it, the less I seem to remember about it… which tells me, perhaps
it’s not one of my all-time favorites?! Plus, we can add in the fact that I
haven’t read the rest of the series which seems telling. Amazon | Goodreads

4: Gunslinger Girl by Lindsay Ely | This is one of
those books I do admire the creativity of. It’s so unique, and full of so many
unique settings and its “sense of place” is memorable. That said, I felt like
the story is a bit too decadent for my likes. (Plus, as well all know from The
Hunger Games, I’m not a fan of the whole killing for sport thing.) Amazon |
Goodreads

5: A Journey by Chance by Sally John | This is one
of the first books (and series) I reviewed on Finding Wonderland. Despite
enjoying the final book in the series, if my review is an indication, this
first novel wasn’t a favorite. Amazon | Goodreads

6: Leaving by Karen Kingsbury | I read this entire
series once upon a time, and while I did want to complete the four books in
order to see how it ended, it wasn’t a favorite. But then, to be fair, I’m not
the biggest fan of Karen Kingsbury’s novels to start with. Amazon | Goodreads

7: Every Storm by Lori Wick | Perhaps adding this
one isn’t fair since I remember nothing about it. But it “feels” like it’s one
of the novels by Lori Wick (one of many I did read by her) that I simply didn’t
care for. Amazon | Goodreads

I like your interpretation of this topic! I found it kind of challenging to come up with books that I didn't like but also was glad I'd read but I can definitely think of a few that would fit your interpretation of it...

Ooh Before I Fall ws a DNF! I just watched the movie for my movie review posts and was debating whether to read the book! I like Lauren Oliver normally, but after seeing the movie I don't feel like I need to read it? IDK. :) Sorry to hear it was a dNF though!

Books are RARELY DNF's for me, because I kinda' feel like I have a decent idea what I'll like vs. what I won't. I feel like that biggest factor for me in the book is the REPEATED DAYS! They go on and on (the book is over 400 pages which seems long for a YA contemporary). This is why I have an inkling I may prefer the film.

Great list! I think rereading is something I need to do more of, because like you there are some books I loved when I read them - like Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study - but I can't actually remember much about them now at all, which is never a good indication that I really loved it.

I did not read the Siren yet. But I want to. I like your lists because you usually don't put super popular books like the rest of us do! hahaha And it is good,at least for me because I can find new books to read.My TTT.

Same here! It's always fun to read all the varying lists and to see how everyone changed or interpreted the topic. PLUS, it's fun to talk all the book convos with everyone. Thanks for visiting, Victoria. :)

Number 3 - I think I need to read the series again to know for sure. But I'm def in the same boat there. Lol! And I couldn't bring myself to read the siren after the end of the selection. (the series should have stopped at 3 books, just sayin)

If memory serves me, I did LIKE (at the time I read it) 'Persuasion,' but for some reason... the more I think about it, the less I feel like I'd like it today. But I hear the latter books are better. Who knows! Perhaps someday I'll complete the series. :)

There is one or two Lori Wick novels I feel like are "timeless" and I'd still enjoy today (The Princess being one of them because I'm a softie for "royal" stories), but yes, overall, they wouldn't probably have the same reaction for adult me like they did teenage me.

Born of Persuasion is just part one of a three part story. It's a single story spread out over each book. It is hands down one of my all time favorites. But it is also one where you have to read each book one right after the other, because the author uses every detail from each book to weave together a grand finale in the final two chapters of book three. I literally bawled when I read the conclusion. I can't remember another story ever moving me that much. In many ways it mimics the biblical love story. It is definitely worth the time investment.

I actually haven't read - or even heard of - any of these! One that I had kind of a meh reaction but don't regret reading is Catcher in the Rye... not much of a fan, but at least now I understand when someone references it!

I saw the Before I Fall movie a while ago and really liked it, and was debating on whether or not to still read the book... though honestly I probably won't. Sorry you had to DNF it. Maybe you'll like the movie more? I probably won't be reading The Siren. Loved The Selection trilogy and will probably keep it at that :)

I feel like I'll like the film. I think the pacing will be SO much better because it has to tell an effective story in 2 hours or so. Whereas the book is 400+ pages, and I feel like it doesn't NEED to be, you know!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy if you do read it.

Great twist on the topic! I haven’t read any of these books, but I love your graphics. I read a lot of those Chicken Soup essay books as a teen. I’d probably roll my eyes at them now. I remember some really melodramatic stories.

As we get older, our reading preferences do change... and I suppose most of the time, that's a good thing. Though I'll confess, I still love my YA novels despite no longer being in the target age. They're my "unplug" and enjoy kind of reads. Especially those cute contemporaries!! :)

Ah, sad about The Siren, the cover is pretty! But yeah, I have seen a LOT of meh reviews, so it makes sense. I liked Gunslinger Girl, but didn't love it. And I think it is definitely fair to add books you barely remember- clearly they weren't awesome! :D

I absolutely loved the series by Jessica Dotta! Again, one of my all-time favs! The one book I really didn’t care for was the one Colleen Coble did about the Irish band. I didnt think it was her best. I usually love her books. It was very predictable.

I love your twist on this topic! I've thought about reading Born of Distinction. It just kept getting pushed farther back in my TBR list. I've had quite a few books that I thought were absolute favorites, but I can't remember much of anything about them anymore. So you posed a really great question, 'Are those my favorites?'

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